W3: Wool Unleashed

Wool Unleashed (W3) aims to deliver premiums for New Zealand’s strong wool sector. Premiums will come from applying a customer-led approach to wool production and processing to develop products that align with customer preferences.

The challenge

Strong wool is being sold as a commodity product and the industry has been in steady decline for the past 25 years.

The solution

This programme will:

connect growers with consumers

differentiate strong wool products from synthetics

develop new uses and users for strong wool

ensure that on-farm production practices align with consumer expectations of a premium product.

This will result in the development of fit-for-market wool enabling:

a more sustainable industry by delivering sustained premiums over the commodity price for wool

consumers to understand the attributes and benefits of wool.

The programme will also promote greater collaboration within the strong wool industry. Information will be shared across the wider primary industries. W3 will complement work already underway to improve returns for sheep meat, beef, and venison to capture the best possible returns for New Zealand's primary industries.

Outcome Logic model

Key facts

Programme start: February 2016Length: 7 yearsPGP funding: $11.05 millionIndustry funding: $11.05 millionCrown funding paid out to programme for work done to 31 August 2017:$1,719,921Commercial partners: The New Zealand Merino CompanyEstimated potential economic benefits to NZ: The programme aims to deliver cumulative economic benefits for the New Zealand economy of up to $335 million by 2025.

Information you requested is not viewable

You do not have permission to access this document.
If you believe you have received this message in error please contact
info@mpi.govt.nz.
For information about restricted areas of the site visit
http://mpi.govt.nz/.